Monolithic’s Airform being inflated. (Jan Pregowski)
Going Up: Three Monolithic Fertilizer Storages in Estonia
The project
Monolithic Constructors Poland (MCP) has started construction on three large fertilizer storage domes in Estonia, a former Soviet state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe that, unlike many countries in that area, has a high-income economy.
Jan Pregowski, chief executive of MCP, signed the contract for these Monolithic Domes last year, but due to a severe winter, MCP had to wait until now to inflate and start construction.
Monolithic Constructors, Inc. in Italy Texas built the Airforms and shipped them to Estonia early this year. Now the first dome is off to a great start.
Jan Pregowski first heard about Monolithic Domes in 1985 and came to America to learn how to build them by working on projects here. Jan then returned to his hometown of Katowice, Poland, trained others, and built a 140′ × 65′ Monolithic Dome for Betania Church – one of the largest church structures in Poland.
By 1994, with David South’s encouragement, Jan established MCP — Monolitycznie Konstrukcjie which translates to Monolithic Construction of Poland. MCP maintains its own website and all equipment needed for dome building.
In 2000 MCP built Jan’s two-story Monolithic Dome dream home that has a 50-foot diameter and a living area with 2500 square feet.
To date, Jan has worked on numerous Monolithic projects in America, Iraq and many other countries.
View video regarding Monolithic Domes as fertilizer storages
Monolithic’s Airform being inflated next to the existing equipment. (Jan Pregowski)
Jan Pregowski stands next to newly inflated structure. (Jan Pregowski)
Newly inflated Airform is now ready for construction. (Jan Pregowski)
Airforms are spread over the equipment used to build the dome. (Jan Pregowski)
Top of the Airform. Seams are visible from the inside of the structure since the material is translucent. (Jan Pregowski)
After the primer is sprayed, they can begin to apply the polyurethane foam. (Jan Pregowski)
Polyurethane is sprayed in layers and is typically 3" thick. (Jan Pregowski)
Airform pictured before it left the factory in Italy, Texas. (Jan Pregowski)
Jan’s crew gets ready for the first inflation. (Jan Pregowski)
Here the crew is pictured spreading the Airform. (Jan Pregowski)
Here the crew is pictured spreading the Airform. (Jan Pregowski)
Here the crew is pictured spreading the Airform. (Jan Pregowski)
Now the pre-mat is installed. The pre-mat is a sacrificial layer of rebar that is installed and embedded with concrete. The pre-mat gives an initial structural layer and a mounting platform for the balance of the structural rebar. (Jan Pregowski)
Door with Airlock. The Airlock is the only means of entering and exiting the dome while it is inflated. (Jan Pregowski)
Initial shotcrete is sprayed to embed the pre-mat. (Jan Pregowski)